Glasgow rape survivor faces agonising wait as attacker’s early parole decision looms

Ellie Wilson, a 27-year-old rape survivor from Glasgow, faces an agonising wait today as the Parole Board for Scotland deliberates on the early release of her attacker, Daniel McFarlane.

McFarlane, a former medical student, was convicted in July 2022 for raping Ellie twice between December 2017 and February 2018.

He received a five-year prison sentence but is now eligible for parole after serving half of his term.

'I'm going to be living in fear'

Ellie, who has waived her right to anonymity, has been an advocate for victims' rights and has criticised the parole process as lacking transparency and compassion.

She was informed over the summer about McFarlane's potential early release and said she is "terrified" to hear of today's outcome.

She said: "It doesn't feel like justice at all.

"If you ask anyone on the street if they think two and a half years is a fair sentence for rape, I think most people would be absolutely appalled by that.

"There's a chance that they might not be able to phone me and let me know today, which means they will phone me on the next working day: Monday.

"I know that if he is released, I'm not going to feel safe. I'm going to be living in fear, and that's going to have a huge impact on my life and the way that I live it.

"I am still living in an address that he knows - when he was given a five-year sentence I thought that'd be enough time for me to move.

"But it's only been 2 and a half years and I haven't been able to move yet.

"He could be authorised for release, and released on Monday, before I've even been told.

"That's so disturbing and really highlights the need for change."

'Every time I think it can't get worse - it does'

Despite her appeals, the Board declined to reschedule, a decision she criticised as lacking compassion.

Subsequently, McFarlane's lawyer's request to bar her from attending the hearing was upheld, leaving Ellie excluded from the proceedings.

Ellie has since met with First Minister John Swinney and Justice Secretary Angela Constance to advocate for parole system reforms.

She is campaigning for changes that would require offenders to admit guilt before being considered for parole and to grant victims clearer information and rights within the parole process.

She said: "I feel really disempowered and very shut out of the process.

"As horrific as the court case was, at least I had better access to information.

"Every time I think the justice system can't get worse, it goes ahead and gets worse.

"The Parole Board is completely unaccountable, it's not transparent at all.

"No one knows how they make the decisions that they do - I think it's really secretive and that's a concern."

A question for Scottish Ministers

As the Parole Board convenes today, Ellie remains uncertain about the outcome, highlighting the emotional toll and systemic challenges victims face in the parole process.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board Scotland said: "The Parole Board for Scotland does not comment on individual cases.

"A legal right for victims to attend parole hearings would require legislative change and is a matter for Scottish Ministers to consider."

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